The enjoyment of a meal comes down to more than just how it tastes: it also matters how it's presented! A beautifully folded napkin can really set the tone for an elegant meal, and it's easy to do so give it a try! Whether you're decorating for a romantic dinner in or an elaborate family feast, a quiet Christmas dinner or an upscale dinner with friends, wikiHow has you covered. Just get started with Step 1 below or see the sections listed above.

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Steps

Method 1 of 6: Basic Pouch Fold

1

Fold the napkin in half. With the napkin laid out face-down in front of you, fold the top corners down to the bottom corners (fold the napkin in half, towards you).

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2

Fold it in half again. Fold it in half again to form quarters.

3

Fold down the top corner. With the napkin oriented so that the corner with all of the open corners is at the top-left, fold down the first layer until it is at the opposite corner.

4

Turn it over. Turn the napkin over carefully so that the diagonal is going from the top left to the bottom right.

5

Fold it into thirds. Fold the right third of the napkin over and then the left third over to cover it.

6

Tuck. Tuck the left third into the triangle at the bottom of the right third fold, such that it is held firmly in place.

7

Turn over and enjoy. Torn the packet back over and you will find that you have a nice pouch which you can place silverware in!

Method 2 of 6: Basic Pyramid Fold

1

Fold the napkin in half. With the napkin flat, face-down in front of you, fold it in half diagonally and shift the open edge so that it is away from you (triangle points up).[1]

2

Fold up the corners. Fold both the right and left corners, one at a time, so that they meet at the center corner. Your napkin should now look like a square or diamond.

3

Turn the napkin over. Make sure to keep the orientation of the napkin the same, with the open points at the top.

4

Fold the napkin in half again. Fold the top point down to meet the bottom point.

5

Fold again. Fold the napkin along the center seam. This will form the final pyramid. This is often placed on a dinner plate and is a common restaurant napkin style.

Method 3 of 6: Bishop's Hat Fold

1

Fold the napkin in half. With the napkin face-down in front of you, fold it in half horizontally and orient the open ends away from you.

2

Fold down the top corner. Fold the top-right corner down to the bottom center.

3

Fold up the bottom corner. Fold the bottom left corner up to the top center.

4

Flip the napkin over. Flip the napkin over so that the points of the triangle point down and up respectively.

5

Fold up the bottom. Fold the bottom edge straight up to the top. The down-facing point of the triangle on the left should remain.

6

Untuck the right point. Carefully, untuck the point from the triangle on the right side.

7

Open the right triangle. Lift the right point up to open the triangle.

8

Fold the left side point. Take the corner on the far left and fold it in, creating a seam at the center of the bottom point.

9

Fold the top corner back down. Fold the top corner of the triangle you opened back down.

10

Turn the napkin over. You should be able to see the bishop's hat beginning to form. There should now be two points at the top of the napkin formation and one point on the far right.

11

Fold the far right corner. Take the far right corner or point and pull it over to the left, tucking it into the pocket of the left triangle. This should make a seam at the center of the top triangle on the right.

12

Done! Prop up and enjoy your bishop's hat napkin fold!

Method 4 of 6: Heart Fold

1

Fold the napkin in half. With the napkin flat, face-down in front of you, fold it in half diagonally and shift the open edge so that it is away from you (triangle points up).

2

Fold up the corners. Fold both the right and left corners, one at a time, so that they meet at the center corner. Your napkin should now look like a square or diamond.

3

Fold in the top corners. Take the top corner for each side and fold it back inside, so that the point nestles in the respective left and right side corners. You should now see a basic heart shape.

4

Turn the napkin and fold down the back. Turn the napkin over and fold down the back panel so that it disappear behind the drip at the center of the heart.

5

Tuck in and round the top. Take the top right and left corners and tuck them under, rounding the edge as you go. This will form the final heart shape.

6

Enjoy! Enjoy your heart napkin fold! It is perfect for a romantic dinner or Christmas celebration.

Method 5 of 6: Christmas Tree Fold

1

Fold the napkin into quarters. Fold napkin in half (horizontally) and then in half again.

2

Fold up the corners. Take each of the loose corners, one at a time, and fold it up to the top corner. Leave just a little space between them each time (about .5-1 centimeter between each edge).

Fold in the sides. Fold both the left and right sides, one at a time, until their points hit at roughly the first third from the top center point and they begin to form a triangle or Christmas tree shape. Overall, it should look like a kite at this point.

5

Flip the napkin over again.

6

Fold up the edges. Fold up the first layer to the top, forming a tight triangle and the peak of the Christmas tree. Fold each subsequent layer up, folding the tip underneath each layer above it. This will form the layers of the tree.

7

Done! Once all the layers are folded, you are done! Enjoy your Christmas tree napkin.

Method 6 of 6: Other Folds

1

Do a Flower Fold. A flower fold looks complicated but isn't that hard to do. Great for spring weddings or other elegant occasions, you guests won't even want to unfold this work of art.

2

Do a Diamond Pouch Fold. This is a great way to take a traditional fold and make it just a little bit better. It takes longer than the normal pouch but with the right napkin it can look really wonderful.

Do a Boat Fold. If you want to do a fold that impresses the kids as much as the adults, try a boat fold! This is also a great addition to meals served on boats or near the sea.

5

Do a Bunny Fold. Another fold that can be enjoyed by young and old alike, this is a great addition to a family dinner or even an Easter brunch.

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